Transitioning my life and my home from summer into autumn, sadly, isn’t as much about the change in temperature as it is about the change of daily rhythms, commitments, and expectations.
Even though our boys (men), are done with their back to school days, this time of year still feels like a fresh start for me as a maker of the home, and in my work.
I’m writing this on September 1st and I’m ready to read some cozy books, I’m burning an autumn candle, and last week I bought a sweater that I won’t get to wear for at least a month.
I’m also thinking about my home and the slow transition from a humid, hazy summer to a crisp fall where we can open the windows and finally eat dinner on the back patio again.
As always, I want my house to feel like it’s in keeping with the seasons – and this year, as I’ve been talking about House Hushing, I have that familiar sense of wanting to add some fall feels into my home without it becoming overwhelming.
Before you decorate for the season, decide how you want to experience it.
Consider what this particular autumn holds for you.
Are you hosting something, starting a new project, adding more responsibilities? Maybe you had an intense summer and you need some recovery time.
What do you want more of?
What do you want to protect?
How do you want your home—and your days—to feel?
In the Living Seasonally section of House Hushing, I share four steps to take to move from one season to the next in your home and life.
Edit, Audit, Plan and Pick
You do want to work through them in order (the word work makes it sound hard, it’s actually fun and quick!), but today I want to talk about the Picking part.
Pick three words that set your intention of the kind of autumn you need, crave and hope to experience this year.
I thought I had my three words picked last week, but they weren’t quite right. Here’s where I landed:
These words help guide me as I’m considering what to add to my calendar, as I’m in the glorious halls of Hobby Lobby and see the most adorable scarecrow, as I think about buying a new cookbook.
I can ask myself, does this help me be unhurried, is it homemade or can I make it? Does it support me tending to my family, home or myself?
Since I already know that’s what I want, I can be picky with scheduling extra things, say no to the robot made scarecrow, and say yes to a new cookbook that will have me making yummy foods.
I shared this on Instagram last week and here are some of the three words people are picking:
If you need more simple seasonal ideas, there’s an entire section on Living Seasonally in the House Hushing book. It’s less about how to decorate, and more about creating a seasonal home that serves you during whatever your unique season of life is right now. I think you’re going to love it!
